Beginners Guide to fishing leads
Lead choice is one of those areas of fishing that you may think is relatively straightforward. That is until you walk into a tackle shop and are greeted with a wall full of leads of different shapes, sizes, textures and even colours. So which ones should you choose?
The answer to that question will largely depend on which fishing situation you find yourself in.
A lead’s first job is to provide enough weight for you to cast your rig the desired distance. But certain shapes are also better for fishing over different types of lakebeds or casting long ranges. Knowing what type of lakebed you’re fishing over also enables you to choose the best colour or texture of lead to blend in with the surroundings. This is especially useful when targeting pressured carp that are used to dealing with rigs. So here are details of the main types of lead and when to use each one.
Pear Lead
A real all-rounder, these are suited to a range of angling situations. They are easy to cast accurately because their shape keeps them stable in flight.
The large rounded end makes it easier to feel the lead hit the bottom than a lead with a slimmer or pointed end. The dumpy body also means fish will come into contact with the full weight of the lead as soon as they straighten out the hooklink leading to more positive takes.
Casting range: Up to 80 yards
Pros: Casts accurately
Cons: Will bury in silt or weed
Flat pear lead
This flat, condensed version of the pear lead is great for fishing on sloping marginal shelves or on the sides of gravel bars because it won’t roll out of position.
Its large surface area helps it to sit on top of weed or silt, especially lighter 1oz-1.5oz leads, but it is also excellent on firm lakebeds. Like the standard pear lead, it also has excellent hooking properties.
Casting range: Short to medium
Pros: Will remain in position on slopes
Cons: Can’t be cast big distances
Gripper Lead
There’s nothing subtle about these specialist leads. They are designed for fishing in extreme conditions and are more popular with anglers on the Continent fishing large reservoirs than with anglers in the UK. If you are fishing on steep slopes or a powerful river then a gripper lead will help to hold your rig in place.
Casting range: Short range
Pros: Heavy grippers will hold in place on steep slopes and in strong currents
Cons: Not great for casting
Inline lead
Inline leads are the only type you should use when fishing with solid PVA bags. As the hooklink is attached directly to the lead, as soon as a fish picks up the hookbait and straightens out the hooklink they will come into contact with the full weight of the lead. A short hooklink with an inline lead is possibly the best hooking arrangement around. Inlines should be avoided when fishing over deep silt or weed where the hooklink can be left in debris.
Casting range: Up to 80 yards
Pros: Excellent hooking properties
Cons: Can pull hooklink into lakebed debris
Distance leads
Sleek and streamlined, these torpedo-shaped leads are built for distance. If you need to cast distances over 100 yards, these are essential.
Good weight distribution makes them highly stable and accurate in flight. They lend themselves to both lead clip and helicopter presentations. Apart from your terminal rigs, they can also be used as feature-finding tools.
Casting range: 100 yards-plus
Pros: Can be cast big distances
Cons: Will roll down sloping banks
Bottle lead
This retro classic was widely used by big-fish anglers across Europe in the 90s and was considered one of the best shapes ever produced. Avid recently re-released this favourite.
With its elongated shape it is the perfect general purpose profile for a multitude of situations. The new Avid Bottle leads feature a double barrel flexi ring swivel moulded directly into the top of the lead as opposed to being mounted on a brass loop. This improves the lead’s bolt effect properties.
Casting range: Short to medium
Pros: Impressive bolt effect properties
Cons: Can’t be cast really long ranges